Emma Johnson had spent the entire morning buried in work plans and summaries, preparing for the afternoon meeting.
But halfway through her writing, Ava Brown burst through the door, panic written all over her face. "Chief editor, we have a problem. The model is here, and we can't stop her. I think she's here to get back at you!"
"A model? You mean Isabella Miller?" Emma set down her pen, frowning.
Before Ava could answer, a sharp, grating voice echoed from the hallway.
"Let me in. I'm your chief editor's cousin. I'd like to see who dares to stop me."
Now she claims to be my cousin?
Unbelievable.
Ava looked at Emma helplessly, her heart racing with worry. But she couldn't think of a way out.
"It's fine. Go ahead, Ava. I'll handle this myself." Emma's voice was calm, steady.
The moment Ava stepped out, Isabella barged into the office.
Then, with a loud click, Isabella twisted the lock behind her.
Making herself at home, isn't she?
Ava glared at Isabella through the glass, knowing exactly what was happening.
Emma watched the movement, her fingers tightening around the documents in her hand. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think I'm doing here? Emma, I honestly don't know what kind of tricks you used to seduce Noah Taylor. Now you're sitting pretty as the president's wife of Pinnacle Corporation? Let me tell you the truth—if a woman like you stripped naked in front of me, I wouldn't even blink. I don't know what these men see in you. Are they all blind?" Isabella marched straight up to her, shouting.
"Keep your mouth clean, Isabella. If you can't hold onto your own man, what's the point of coming after me? If you're so free, why don't you go home and figure out how to keep Noah's heart?" Emma stood up, walked to the water cooler, and poured a glass of water, placing it in front of Isabella.
Emma was being far too kind. After everything, she still personally poured her a glass of water!
"You're nothing but a whore. After you hooked Liam Williams, you went after Elijah Clark. I feel sick just looking at a shameless woman like you."
"Sick? Then why are you still here at our company? Why don't you go flatter Noah and make him sick instead? Isabella, I find you utterly ridiculous..."
It's bad luck. Every time I see her, nothing good happens.
Is it all just about a man? When I lost Noah, I wasn't this torn up.
If someone doesn't love you and they dump you, what can you do? Let alone Isabella's short two years.
It was seven years for me!
Seven years! The best time, the most beautiful years—all given to Noah Taylor.
And in the end, we couldn't even make it work. So what's the point of Isabella coming here to make a scene in front of me?
To complain about how wronged she is? How innocent?
Ridiculous.
Emma looked up at her. Isabella used to have a delicate, fair face. Now, her complexion was sallow and dark. When she spoke, Emma could faintly smell alcohol on her breath.
Emma let out a soft sigh. "Go look at yourself in the mirror. Look at what you've become. Who would want you like this? Forget Noah—I feel sorry for you..."
Isabella touched her cheek at Emma's words, then flew into a rage. "You bitch, who gave you the right to judge me? You think you're so clean? I don't know how many times Elijah Clark has played with you, but how dare you talk about me with such pride?"
"I'm saying this for your own good. Besides, Elijah and I are husband and wife. We can do whatever we want. Can you control that?" Emma rolled her eyes, picked up her phone, and checked the time. It was almost time to get off work.
I really want to get out of here. I can't stand another word with this woman.
But at that moment, a black Land Rover pulled up in front of the New York Fashion Magazine building.
Two tall, impeccably dressed men stepped out of the luxurious car.
One of them carried a large box.
They walked straight toward Emma's office, only to find a crowd gathered outside.
Liam Williams frowned slightly, his face darkening as he approached.
Ava immediately recognized him. "Mr. Williams? You're here... We're in trouble..." She pointed inside.
Although the office door was closed, the middle was made of glass. Even from outside, you could clearly see and hear everything happening inside.
Liam looked in. It seemed Emma was arguing with that woman.
And that woman looked familiar.
It's the one I saw at the cafe last time.
Liam pursed his lips. Christopher Martin, who was carrying the lunchbox, suddenly spoke up. "Isn't that Isabella Miller?"
Liam was puzzled. "You know her?"
Christopher nodded with certainty. "Sir, Isabella Miller is a model we just signed. The list is still with me. I didn't have time to show you."
"I see..." Just as they were talking, Ava cried out, "Oh no! Isabella has a knife! Someone call security!"
At her shout, Liam and Christopher both looked inside.
Emma must have said something to anger Isabella. Now, Isabella was holding a fruit knife, advancing step by step toward Emma.
Seeing the situation was critical, Liam immediately ran to the door and twisted the handle. It was locked. Ava said weakly, "Isabella locked it when she went in. She's not trying to kill our chief editor, is she?"
Liam's face turned icy cold. He clenched his fist, took a step back, and kicked the door down with all his strength.
The scene erupted in chaos. The president of Pinnacle Corporation had just kicked down a door.
Ava didn't dare blink.
Inside, Emma and Isabella were both startled by the sudden, violent noise.
When Isabella saw Liam, her face went pale. She turned and pointed the knife at him, stammering, "You... don't come any closer, or I'll... I'll hurt you..."
Liam didn't even flinch at the knife in her hand. He was more afraid that Isabella would hurt Emma. So he walked straight ahead, without any hesitation or fear.
Isabella watched him approach. She closed her eyes and swung the knife, aiming it at Emma.
The moment Liam saw this, he rushed forward, grabbed the fruit knife in Isabella's hand, and with a flick of his wrist, threw it to the ground. Then he pushed Isabella to the floor. She landed hard on the ground.
"Liam, be careful..." Seeing this, Emma's heart raced with fear.